Trabzonspor will look to build on their recent momentum when they host Sivasspor at Papara Park to close out Round 20 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig campaign.
The Black Sea Storm enter this contest buoyed by back-to-back victories in the Turkish Cup and Super Lig, hoping to continue their recent resurgence under Senol Gunes.
Match preview
Trabzonspor began 2024 with a disappointing 2-1 league defeat to Samsunspor but have bounced back in emphatic style, recording a commanding 3-0 triumph over Alanyaspor in the Turkish Cup, before a scintillating 5-0 demolition of Antalyaspor in the league.
Key players have stepped up during this purple patch, with Simon Banza finding the net in both victories, while Pedro Malheiro stole the show against Antalyaspor with a superb hat-trick – perhaps more noteworthy, however, is the defensive solidity displayed by Gunes's side, keeping clean sheets in both matches.
The league victory propelled the Black Sea Storm to 10th place in the standings with 22 points, and while their campaign has been underwhelming so far, the Trabzon-side will be pleased to find themselves six points clear of the relegation zone.
With most of the squad now back to full fitness, the hosts have been able to produce more cohesive performances, and will be eager to end their four-match winless streak against Sivasspor, having lost and drawn two apiece in their last four meetings.
The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a goalless stalemate, while the hosts narrowly lost 1-0 victory in the last clash between both sides at Papara Park.
Sivasspor, meanwhile, are hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone, sitting just four points and two places above the drop with 20 points from 18 matches.
Omer Erdogan's side played out a 1-1 draw against Alanyaspor in their previous league outing, marking a troubling run of seven consecutive Super Lig matches without a win, including four losses and three draws.
Despite their recent strong record against Trabzonspor, Sivasspor's away form casts doubt on their chances, having managed only seven points from a possible 24 on the road and currently enduring a three-match losing streak away from home in the league.
Nevertheless, a win at Papara Park would see the Yigidos leapfrog Trabzonspor in the standings, and while the odds may not favor them, their last victory at this ground could serve as a motivational boost.
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Team News
Trabzonspor remain without a few key players despite welcoming most of their starters back from injury.
Denis Dragus and Arif Bosluk are sidelined, along with Onuralp Cevikkan, Stefan Savic and Huseyin Turkmen, who are all ruled out of Monday's clash.
For Sivasspor, Mehmet Albayrak remains a long-term absentee due to a cruciate ligament injury and will be unavailable until March.
Erdem Gulec, Samba Camara, Alaaddin Okumus and Eymen Yurdcu are also out, though none were expected to start.
The visitors, however, will be boosted by the return of Rey Manaj and Charis Charisis, who have completed their suspensions and are set to return to the starting lineup.
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Malheiro, Lundstram, Batagov, Elmali; Gunes, Mendy; Visca, Cham, Nwakaeme; Banza
Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Nikolic; Paluli, Sundberg, Radakovic, Ciftci; Charisis, Moutoussamy; Koita, Pritchard, Rodrigues; Manaj
We say: Trabzonspor 2-0 Sivasspor
Trabzonspor's recent form and home advantage make them favorites against struggling Sivasspor, and the Black Sea Storm should capitalise on their momentum, Sivasspor's poor away record and defensive frailties, to secure victory here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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